Weekly birding round-up: 25 - 31 October 2017
The autumn’s westerly theme continued for much of this week although the generally mild conditions were punctuated by a sudden incursion on 29th of Arctic air all the way from the North Pole. These conditions ensured that the east coast continued to receive almost no Siberian passerines although some scarce seabirds were on offer here instead. The only really productive areas for new rarity discoveries were once again the Northern Isles, Ireland and the far Southwest of England. Even here though, pickings were relatively slim and, for the last week of October, this was in truth a little poor. Nevertheless there was plenty of great late autumn birdwatching to be had, with a good selection of seabirds, incoming wildfowl, Starlings and winter thrushes and a continuing mass migration of Hawfinches.
The week’s best bird was a first-winter female Common Yellowthroat at Toe Head, Cork on 28th. This is only the second Irish record, following one at Loop Head, Clare on 3rd to 4th October 2003, and therefore a welcome new bird for Cork. This did not spark a widespread cross-Irish Sea twitch, however, not least because there was no sign of it next day. This is, however, a commoner bird on this side of the Irish Sea. To the end of 2015 there have been ten in Britain, most recently the well-watched bird at Rhiwderin, Gwent from 10th February to 31st March 2012. Prior to this bird, there had been other accessible ones too, both on the Isles of Scilly – on St. Mary’s in 1997 and Bryher in 1984.
Continuing the Nearctic passerine theme were two more Grey-cheeked Thrushes – on St. Martins, Isles of Scilly, albeit briefly, on 26th and then another on the same day at Red Strand, Cork, the latter bringing the total this month in Cork to an impressive three. One of the earlier arrivals here, at Galley Head, was still present on 27th.
Given the long range Arctic blast of 29th, some might have predicted this supremely charismatic High Arctic gull but in reality the discovery of an adult Ross’s Gull at Fenham Flats, Northumberland on 29th still came as something a surprise. Presumably it was an even greater surprise to its single fortunate observer. Very much in the ‘old fashioned rarity’ category, this species is increasingly rare and hard to see these days, indeed it seems to be steadily regaining its former near-mythical status.
Very much in the same mould, indeed often spoken of reverently in the same breath, is Ivory Gull so it was only fitting that one flew past Papa Westray, Orkney with Kittiwakes on 30th. As with the aforementioned Ross’s Gull, this was also a single observer sighting and no doubt provided an equally delicious mixture of shock and joy. Also something of a ‘blast from the past’ these days, the last British record of this once near-annual bird was at Ullapool, Highland in January 2015. A long-staying example of either this species or Ross’s Gull would now cause a significant twitch.
Hot on the heels of last week’s Pterodroma action off North Ronaldsay, Orkney came some more, with two birds passing the same island on 30th, presumably pushed into the North Sea by the winds of 29th and subsequently re-entering the Atlantic. This raises North Ronaldsay’s rapidly growing total to five and caps what has been a truly stunning autumn for the island.
Both the other headline birds were lingerers from last week – the male Rock Thrush still faithful to its favoured hillside at Blorenge, Gwent to 31st and the Steppe Grey Shrike still on Whalsay, Shetland to at least 31st also.
Two White-billed Divers were off Papa Westray, Orkney on 26th, three on 29th and no fewer than four on 30th and then, thanks to technology and some quick news sharing, two were seen in the Northeast on 29th, with sightings from Whitburn, Durham, Tynemouth, St. Mary’s Island, Seaton Sluice, Newbiggin, Druridge and the Farne Islands, all Northumberland, and St Abbs, Borders. Working out which bird was which might be tricky but two birds were seen off at least Newbiggin and the Farne Islands. Meanwhile, there were further sightings off east Norfolk to at least 28th. If all the county’s records this autumn relate to the same bird, it has now been resident for around seven weeks. Alternatively, two or even three birds might have been involved.
Last week’s displacement of Leach’s Petrels rippled on into this week with one off South Uist, Western Isles on 25th (and nine there on 26th), two off the Kennacraig to Islay ferry, Argyll on 25th (with another off Islay itself on 27th) and two off Papa Westray, Orkney on 26th. In England, two passed along the north Norfolk coast on 27th in a light northwesterly before stronger winds brought ten to New Brighton, Cheshire & Wirral and 52 to Machrihanish, Argyll on 28th. With the blast of northerly winds down the North Sea on 29th, birds were noted over the next couple of days off several North Sea coast sites with, in the west, seven off Rhos Point, Conwy and duos off Bardsey, Gwynedd and Point Lynas, Anglesey. An inland bird was at Pugneys Country Park, Yorkshire on 30th.
Grey Phalaropes were fewer than of late and scattered around all coasts as well as inland. Birds were at Draycote Water, Warwickshire on 25th to 26th and Pennington, Hampshire on 25th to 31st, five at sea south of Ram Head, Waterford on 26th, one off Blakeney Point and Cley, both Norfolk, on 27th to 29th, four off Eccles, Norfolk on 28th, three off north Norfolk and one off Bardsey, Gwynedd on 29th, one at Loch Katrine, Forth on 29th to 30th and singles off Fanad Head, Donegal, Cley, Norfolk and Minsmere and Southwold, both Suffolk, on 30th.
Sabine’s Gulls were noticeably fewer this week - off Sheringham, Norfolk and Carhampton, Somerset on 26th, at Dunster Marsh, Somerset, Bawdsey, Suffolk (two), Knighton, Somerset, St. Ives, Cornwall and Bardsey, Gwynedd (three) on 29th and St. Ives again on 30th.
Two Little Auks past Cley, Norfolk on 28th were the vanguard of a small flurry over the next two days. Numbers were modest, however, mainly involving ones and twos down the east coast as far south as Kent, the highest counts being 32 off Spurn, Yorkshire, 12 off Southwold, Suffolk and 11 off Papa Westray, Orkney, all on 29th, and 18 off Flamborough Head, Yorkshire and 30 off North Ronaldsay, Orkney on 30th. Much more impressive were some record movements of Guillemots along North Sea coasts from 28th.
It’s getting late for Long-tailed Skuas now but two were off Skokholm, Pembrokeshire on 28th and others off Reculver, Kent, Cape Clear, Cork and Cley, Norfolk on 29th and Flamborough Head, Yorkshire on 31st.
The goose line-up remained a familiar one, with both a Richardson’s Cackling Goose and a Todd’s Canada Goose at Budle Bay, Northumberland and up to four of each on Islay, Argyll. Snow Geese were at Gordon, Borders on 25th with two at Loch of Skene, Aberdeenshire on 25th and Alloa, Forth on 28th to 31st and one still on North Uist, Western Isles. Also in Aberdeenshire, a Red-breasted Goose was at Collieston on 27th. To the south, Black Brants were settled in for the winter at Cley/Salthouse, Norfolk, Ferrybridge, Dorset and Exmouth, Devon.
The headline diving duck was again the adult drake Lesser Scaup at Longham Lakes, Dorset to 26th and then at Blashford Lakes, Hampshire on 28th to 31st. The Ferruginous Duck was at Alloa, Forth still to at least 27th. Ring-necked Ducks were at Colliford Lake, Cornwall, Cotswold Water Park, Wiltshire, Yell, Shetland, Lough Gara, Sligo, Lough Baun, Mayo, Garryhesta Quarry, Cork, Milton Loch, Dumfries & Galloway and Lough Morne, Monaghan.
Turning to dabbling ducks, the female American Wigeon remained at Grimley, Worcestershire, with drakes still at Udale Bay and Loch Gilp, both Highland, Rutland Water, Leicestershire and North Uist, Western Isles. The only Green-winged Teals of the week were drakes at Frodsham, Cheshire & Wirral on 28th and 29th and on North Ronaldsay, Orkney still on 30th.
At sea, a Surf Scoter was off Musselburgh, Lothian still with others at Inishmore, Galway on 25th to 28th, in the waters around the Isles of Scilly on 26th to 31st, off Torbay, Devon on 26th, off Unst, Shetland on 26th to 30th, off Letterfrack, Galway on 29th to 31st and past Overstrand, Norfolk on 30th.
This week witnessed an apparent arrival of Glossy Ibises with the traditional bias towards the Southwest and southern Ireland very evident. Birds included five at Abbotsbury, Dorset on 27th, up to four at Red Strand, Cork on 26th to 30th and others at Old Hall Marshes, Essex on 26th, Exminster, Devon and Bude, Cornwall on 27th, Cork Harbour, Cork (two) on 28th, Chapel Amble, Cornwall and the Axe Estuary, Devon on 28th to 30th, Whiting Bay, Waterford, Wadebridge, Cornwall and Ballinskelligs, Kerry (two) on 30th and Brading Marsh, Isle of Wight on 30th to 31st. One was also still at Ham Wall, Somerset to the end of the week. Just to our south, a flock of ten birds on Guernsey, Channel Islands on 27th was only the second record for the islands.
The Purple Heron at Leighton Moss, Lancashire, still present to 27th, and the American Night Heron at Shrewsbury, Shropshire, still present to 29th, were the only rare herons of the week. Not really rare any more were the forty or more Cattle Egrets , 25 of which were at Ham Wall, Somerset.
The only White Stork of the week was at Bedhampton and Ports Down, Hampshire on 28th to 29th. Finally, a late Corncrake was at Ainsdale, Merseyside on 25th.
Somewhat shoe-horned into this section, the Pied-billed Grebe was again at Lochgilphead, Argyll on 30th.
Continuing Cork’s run of great birds, last week’s juvenile Pallid Harrier was again at or near Barrys Head on 26th to 30th, with another juvenile found at Charmouth, Dorset on 28th. In keeping with the generally poor autumn for eastern birds, this has been a disappointing period for this species. The only other raptors of note were Honey Buzzards over Warham, Norfolk on 26th and Poole, Dorset on 28th.
The best wader was the long-staying Wilson’s Snipe on St. Mary’s, Isles of Scilly, still present to 31st. Back on the mainland, Dorset’s rare wader trio - Stilt Sandpiper at Poole Harbour, Spotted Sandpiper at Abbotsbury and Lesser Yellowlegs at Lodmoor - remained in place. The now familiar Long-billed Dowitcher line-up included the singles at Oare Marshes, Kent and Saltfleet, Lincolnshire and duos at Marshside, Lancashire, Smerwick, Kerry and Tacumshin, Wexford. There was also a Lesser Yellowlegs at Tacumshin on 28th to 30th.
A video of the WILSON'S SNIPE (original bird) at Porth Hellick Pool, St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly (19/10/17). #isbg pic.twitter.com/bncMwKWqgu
— Darren Underwood (@dku1000) October 25, 2017
Otherwise, American Golden Plovers dominated the rare wader headlines, with a steady flow of new discoveries, almost all in the west. Birds were noted at Port Logan, Dumfries & Galloway on 25th to 31st, Bannow Bay, Wexford (two) and Carrahane Strand, Kerry on 25th (the former to 31st), Ouse Fen, Cambridgeshire on 26th to 27th, Galley Head, Cork, St. Mary’s, Isles of Scilly, and The Lizard, Cornwall on 27th, Ballycotton, Cork on 27th to 28th, Baltimore, Cork on 28th, Barra, Western Isles on 28th and 29th, Lough Foyle, Derry (two) on 29th, Cahore Marsh and Wellingtonbridge, both Wexford, on 30th, North Uist, Western Isles still on 30th and Falmouth, Cornwall on 31st.
White-rumped Sandpipers also put in a good showing with birds at Louisburgh, Mayo and Black Rock Strand, Kerry (up to two) on 25th to 27th, Gwithian, Cornwall on 26th to 31st, Tacumshin, Wexford on 27th to 30th (with two on the latter date), Lough Beg, Derry on 29th to 31st (with two on the latter date), Blacktoft Sands, Yorkshire on 29th to 31st and Ring Strand, Cork on 30th.
Pectoral Sandpipers were at Austerfield, Yorkshire to at least 26th, Abberton Reservoir, Essex on 25th, Pulborough, Sussex on 27th to 31st and on the Rogerstown Estuary, Dublin on 29th to 30th.
The only European waders of note were the Pacific Golden Plover again at Bannow Bay, Wexford to 31st (alongside two American Golden Plovers!) and Dotterels at St. Margarets at Cliffe, Kent on 25th, Ouse Fen, Cambridgeshire on 28th and Cardurnock, Cumbria on 29th.
The week saw an increasing scatter of white-winged gulls though there was no dramatic influx in the blast of Arctic air. Around fifteen Glaucous Gulls were noted, a number in the far north but others as far south as Hunstanton and Salthouse, both Norfolk, and the Gann Estuary, Pembrokeshire. Iceland Gulls were scarcer (and all in the far north), noted on Lewis, Western Isles and North Ronaldsay, Orkney on 26th, South Ronaldsay, also Orkney, on 28th, Birsay, Mainland Orkney on 29th, Fair Isle, Shetland on 30th and Papa Westray, Orkney and South Uist, Western Isles on 31st. Further south, the adult Bonaparte’s Gull was again at Dawlish, Devon on 29th.
In Ireland, the Forster’s Tern was at Ballylaughan Beach, Galway on 26th.
Somewhat surprisingly, the Bee-eater was seen again at East Chevington, Northumberland on 29th and then relocated to the south at Whitburn, Durham on 30th.
In terms of rare passerines, Shetland once again dominated the news. The best bird was a Pied Wheatear on Out Skerries on 26th, the other highlights including five Hornemann’s Arctic Redpolls on Unst still to at least 25th (with at least three to 31st), another on Fair Isle on 30th, the Siberian/Stejneger’s Stonechat still at Sandwick to at least 27th, Dusky Warblers at Hoswick, Mainland on 25th to 29th and Melby and Kergord, both also Mainland, on 26th, a Hume’s Warbler still on Foula on 26th and Olive-backed Pipits on Fair Isle and Foula on 26th.
Elsewhere, Olive-backed Pipits were widely scattered in what has been a surprisingly good autumn for this species. One can only wonder how many more might have reached us if the weather patterns had arranged themselves more favourably. Last week’s bird at St. Brides, Pembrokeshire was still present on 25th with others at Gibraltar Point, Lincolnshire on 25th, North Ronaldsay, Orkney on 26th, Gugh, Isles of Scilly and The Lizard, Cornwall on 27th, St. Mary’s, Isles of Scilly on 30th to 31st and Mousehole, Cornwall on 31st.
Surprisingly, there was a little flurry of Red-throated Pipits in the Southwest and southern Ireland with singles at Shurdington, Gloucestershire on 25th, Lundy, Devon on 26th to 27th, St. Mary’s, Isles of Scilly on 27th, Polgigga, Cornwall and Cape Clear, Cork on 28th and Tacumshin, Wexford on 29th.
Dusky Warblers included two on St. Mary’s, Isles of Scilly to at least 26th with singles on North Ronaldsay, Orkney on 26th and St. Agnes, Isles of Scilly on 27th. Radde’s Warblers were at Portland, Dorset on 25th to 26th, Skokholm, Pembrokeshire and Nanjizal, Cornwall on 26th, Loop Head, Clare on 30th and St. Mary’s, Isles of Scilly on 31st. In what has so far been a disastrous autumn for the species, the only Pallas’s Warblers were on North Ronaldsay, Orkney on 25th, at Hengistbury Head, Dorset on 28th, Waxham, Norfolk on 30th to 31st and St. Mary’s, Isles of Scilly on 31st. At this rate it looks as though most of us will have to go without our annual fix of the flying fairy light. The final Siberian passerine of the week was a Siberian/Stejneger’s Stonechat on St. Agnes, Isles of Scilly on 31st.
The rest of the scarce passerine list is varied enough but the number of birds is small, representing a significant reduction since last week. Starting with eastern species, the most numerous still were Little Buntings with birds at Long Nab, Yorkshire and St. Agnes, Isles of Scilly, on 25th to 26th, Cape Clear, Cork, Unst, Shetland (two) and Fair Isle, also Shetland, on 26th (the latter to 28th), St. Mary’s, Isles of Scilly (up to two) to 31st and The Lizard, Cornwall and Dursey Island, Cork on 28th.
Richard’s Pipits remained few, the only records being from Geosetter, Mainland Shetland on 25th, Portland, Dorset and (found dead) North Ronaldsay, Orkney on 26th, Porthgwarra, Cornwall (two) and St. Mary’s, Isles of Scilly on 27th, Sennen, Cornwall on 27th to 30th, Bryher, Isles of Scilly on 28th, Hunmanby Gap, Yorkshire on 30th and Cape Clear, Cork and Titchwell, Norfolk (two) on 31st. The only Short-toed Larks were the long-staying bird at Sennen, Cornwall to at least 27th and one on Cape Clear, Cork on 29th to 30th. Rose-coloured Starlings were at Orcop Hill, Herefordshire on 25th to 28th Selsey, Sussex to at least 27th, Marazion, Cornwall on 26th to 30th and Minsmere, Suffolk on 27th.
Yellow-browed Warblers were still well scattered down eastern coasts and in the Southwest with inland birds in London, Berkshire, Warwickshire and Derbyshire and ‘out west’ birds on the Western Isles and in Galway.
Turning to European species, Red-breasted Flycatchers were on St. Mary’s, Isles of Scilly (up to two) on 26th to 31st, on North Ronaldsay, Orkney on 26th, at Kergord, Mainland Shetland on 26th to 27th, on Lundy, Devon on 28th and in the Kenidjack Valley, Cornwall on 30th to 31st. A Bluethroat was on Bryher, Isles of Scilly on 25th to 26th with Common Rosefinches at Inishmore, Galway on 26th and 27th and Nanjizal, Cornwall on 27th. Barred Warblers were at Whitburn, Durham still on 26th with others on Unst, Shetland on 26th and at Abbotsbury, Dorset on 27th.
Completing the scarcities line-up were an Ortolan Bunting at Cape Cornwall, Cornwall on 26th, Wrynecks at Clodgy Point and Nanquidno, both Cornwall, on 26th and Dursey Island, Cork on 30th and Red-backed Shrikes at Gillingham, Kent on 26th to 28th and Mizen Head, Cork on 27th. Finally, two Penduline Tits were at Minsmere, Suffolk on 27th, Serins at Hengistbury Head, Dorset on 27th and The Lizard, Cornwall on 30th, a Melodious Warbler at Leasowe, Cheshire & Wirral on 29th, a Black-bellied Dipper at Spurn, Yorkshire on 30th and a Hoopoe on Skokholm, Pembrokeshire on 31st.
The week’s main passerine event was the continued irruption of Hawfinches . Reports of up to 20 birds were widespread but higher numbers were noted as follows: 39 at Capel, Surrey on 25th, 40 at Steps Hill, Buckinghamshire, 22 at Marsden Hall and 28 at Whitburn, both Durham, and 46 at Hunstanton, Norfolk on 26th, 68 at Steps Hill and 41 at Ivinghoe Beacon, both Buckinghamshire, on 27th, 62 at Steps Hill, 44 at Ivinghoe Beacon and 26 at both Carsington Water, Derbyshire and Thornton, Leicestershire on 28th and 30 at Leith Hill, Surrey on 29th.
As for winter passerines, migrant Great Grey Shrikes were on Unst and Yell, both Shetland, on 25th to 29th, at South Nesting, Mainland Shetland on 27th, on North Ronaldsay, Orkney on 26th, at Hunmanby Gap, Yorkshire and Medmerry, Sussex on 27th, Bigton, Mainland Shetland on 28th and Landguard, Suffolk, Spurn, Yorkshire, Aberlady, Lothian and Papa Westray, Orkney (a good day there!) on 30th. Inland birds in potential wintering habitat were at Cleeve Hill and in the Forest of Dean, both Gloucestershire, at Hartland Moor, Dorset, Thursley Common, Surrey and Cropwell Bishop, Nottinghamshire.
Waxwing reports were few - at Spurn, Yorkshire and Tory Island, Donegal on 27th, Dublin, Co.Dublin (two) on 28th, one at Kilnsea, Yorkshire on 30th and ten over Cruden Bay, Aberdeenshire and one in Newport, Shropshire on 31st. The Irish records are intriguing and beg the obvious question as to what route they may have taken. Could they even be Nearctic birds?
Starting closest to home, the White’s Thrush was still on Ouessant, France with a Wilson’s Snipe on Ile de Sein and the American Royal Tern still on Herm. In the Netherlands, the week’s best birds were Pied and Isabelline Wheatears and a Black-throated Thrush . Further afield, Euro-highlights included Blyth’s Pipits in Spain and Italy, Pied Wheatears in Norway and Germany, a Pallas’s Warbler in the Czech Republic, Hume’s Warblers in Norway and Sweden and, perhaps best of all, a Northern Shrike (now split by IOC) in Sweden.
Looking ahead, the westerlies roll on for another week but without the prospect of significant storms. We should therefore see a continuing hollowing out of the passerine presence with a corresponding surge of gulls and wildfowl. Predicting the next rarity is now tricky indeed. There is certainly still time for another American passerine but the charts don’t look promising. To the east, the options look even more limited. Will we even get the traditional end of season Desert Wheatear or will November see a further descent into winter? November is a fickle month, however, fading away in some years but in others producing a totally outlandish surprise....
Andy Stoddart
1 November 2017
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